Anybody looking for a work Visa, wants to become a citizen of the US or have the status as a legal resident needs an immigration lawyer. Due to the rigorous details that are involved in the application processes of such matters, you will need the help of a lawyer whose area of specialization is immigration law. To go through the requirements of INS {Immigration and Naturalization Service} which is now known as USCIS {US Citizenship and Immigration Services}, you will need professional guidance.
The Need For Hiring an Immigration Lawyer
The world we live in now is digital due to technology innovations. Nobody is ignorant of how things are done these days. All you have to do is go online, and you can get your answer no matter what you search. This situation may keep people wondering whether there is any need for hiring an immigration attorney since they can get help if they search the web. But then cases involving immigration are not usually simple for you to embark on without legal representation.
Moreover, it is a lawyer that specializes in this field that can navigate the complexities of immigration regulation and laws. Furthermore, you are not only facing the regulations and rules of your particular State or Country, there is also separation from your family or deportation which is challenging and dangerous. You must hire an immigration lawyer to represent you no matter the cost.
Reasons for Hiring an Immigration Lawyer
- Due to the complex framework of applying for family-based petitions and Visas, it is essential to use a professional that specializes in such matters.
- With the increasing trend of deporting and detaining immigrants these days, there is a need for an immigration attorney.
- The provision of waivers for certain residents who are not citizens of US but have lived unlawfully in the US for some time or have minor records.
All of these reasons pose a problem to a prospective immigrant. That is why he or she needs an immigration attorney who can analyze them carefully with expertise. If you have proper assistance, all those things that seem to be problematic can become your opportunity to migrate to the US.
How Much Does An Immigration Lawyer Cost?
The legal fees that you pay to an immigration lawyer differ. It all depends on the service you will require from him or her. For instance, if you are hiring a lawyer to file a petition based on family immigration, the fees will be lesser than when you are hiring an attorney for defense in a deportation process. If you want to settle your immigration matters, there is the need to understand the workings of the system. You should know the breakdown of the charges involved. They are as follows;
Filing Fees
The filing charges seem to be the highest variable in the entire immigration process. For instance, some Visa application may only take a few hundred in dollars, and the needed papers may cost nothing to file them. However, in some cases, the filing fees may reach up to $1500 for each person.
Miscellaneous
Some of the miscellaneous services like securing an interpreter, request for evidence, expedited processing, and sometimes high expenditures may pile up from $200 to several thousand. It is not unheard of for interpreters alone to charge around $200 for each session.
Lawyer’s Fees
Unlike many other lawyers, immigration attorneys are not likely to offer Pro Bono consultation. The reason it is so may not be necessary, but you have to know that the first time you are meeting with an immigration lawyer will cost you money. You should be prepared to give up to $50 to $100 for your initial consultation. After the first consultation, the relationship between the lawyer and client may have been established. You can then start preparing around $2,000 to $12,000 for the total cost of your attorney’s fees.
Conclusion
Sometimes, what determines the immigration lawyer’s cost is their experience. Although these days experience alone is not the determining factor. The immigration laws are constantly evolving and change very fast so that less experienced and younger attorneys may even be more competent than the older generation. However, with everything considered, the main things that can determine an immigration lawyer’s cost are the specific filing of the client. Another thing is the income base of the prospective client and the billing system of the attorney. The general rule is that immigration attorneys either bill by the hour or via a flat fee.
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